Schinia chryselloides Pogue and Harp

Pogue, Michael G. & Harp, And Charles E., 2005, Systematics of Schinia chrysellus (Grote) complex: Revised status of Schinia alencis (Harvey) with a description of two new species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae), Zootaxa 898, pp. 1-35 : 10-13

Schinia chryselloides Pogue and Harp new species

( Figs. 1­2 , 7–9 , 17 , 22 , 28–29 , 37, 40 , 47 )

Diagnosis. Schinia chryselloides is most closely related to S. chrysellus , based on the virtually identical forewing maculation. The only difference is the black scaling at the apex of the forewing in chryselloides , which is absent in chrysellus . The best way to separate these two species is by the size of the ventral projection of the frons and size of the labial palps. In chrysellus this projection is very broad and quite produced and the labial palps are reduced and barely extend beyond the frons ( Fig. 16 ); in chryselloides the projection is narrower, less produced, and the labial palps project well beyond the frons ( Fig. 17 ). The foretibial claws are round in chryselloides ( Fig. 22 ) and flat in chrysellus ( Fig. 21 ). In the male genitalia the vesica has 2 1/2 coils in chrysellus ( Fig. 27 ) and 3 coils in chryselloides ( Fig. 29 ). In the female genitalia the papillae analis is an elongate, curved triangle with a pointed apex in chrysellus ( Fig. 39 ); and in chryselloides it is a broad triangle with a narrowly rounded apex ( Fig. 40 ). The papillae analis is usually sticking out of the abdomen in the females, so dissection is not necessary to observe this character.

Description. Male. Head: Frons white to cream, ventral projection moderately produced ( Fig. 17 ); vertex light brown; labial palp long, extends beyond frons, white; eyes large and globular. Thorax: Scales wide, light brown; forefemur with dorsal and inner surface light brownish­gray, outer surface white becoming light brownish­gray apically; tibia with proximal half light brownish­gray and distal half white, largest spine on inner side round robust, 2–3 slender spines dorsal to it, outer side with 4 robust round spines that become progressively shorter proximally; tarsi light brownish­gray with white apical rings; middle femur with dorsal and inner surface light brownish­gray, outer surface white becoming light brownish­gray apically; tibia light brownish­gray with white apical ring; tarsi light brownish­gray with white apical rings; hind femur white; tibia white; basitarsus white, rest tan with white apical rings; underside white. Forewing: Length 9.2–12.83, mean 11.21 + 1.21 mm (n=12). Ground color shiny white; basal patch light brown; median band light brown with darker brown scales interspersed, edged with black, irregularly shaped; reniform spot incorporated into median band and produced toward apex; terminal band with white apex bordered by light brown proximally, a few rufous scales becoming light brown to approximately 2/3 length, rest white, proximal margin jagged; small black spots between wing veins; fringe with short scales at apex black, becoming light brown toward tornus, longer scales white; underside gray, subapical and apical patch white, variably distinct white band at approximately 2/3 length below end of discal cell, white spots between veins along margin. Hindwing: Ground color shiny white; marginal band light gray, lacking a well­defined inner margin; fringe white. Abdomen: Dorsum white with some scattered light brown scales, distal border of sternites cream, ventrum white; scent pockets and hair pencils on second sternite absent. Genitalia ( Figs. 28–29 ): Uncus elongate, approximately 0.3 times length of valve, apex blunt with small hook; valve moderate to elongate (length approximately 6.7–9.1 X width), costal margin gently curved, posterior margin angulate at 2/3 length, apex round; ampulla minute (0.01 length of valve); corona with stout spines; sacculus with ventral margin produced; juxta rectangular, height greater than width, ventral margin U­shaped and more sclerotized than rest of juxta; saccus Vshaped; aedoeagus slightly curved, dorsodistal third with fine spines; vesica emerging ventrally, basal diverticulum present, 3 coils; cornuti finely scobinate.

Female. As in male except forewing length 10.0–12.83, 11.55 + 0.98 mm (n=11). Genitalia ( Figs. 37, 40 ): Papilla analis a broad triangle, apex narrowly rounded; posterior apophysis approximately 0.65–0.75 X length of anterior apophysis; ductus bursae membranous, elongate; appendix bursae shorter than corpus bursae, with 1 1/2 coils; corpus bursae ovate; signa 4 scobinate bars.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: Ψ, Colorado, Elbert Co., Elizabeth, lights of new grocery mall,> 11 pm., 39° 21’ 39” N, 104° 36’ 37” W, June 24, 2000, 6341 ft., leg: Chuck & M. J. Harp, USNM ENT 0 0 220214. Deposited in USNM.

Biology. Adult emergence coincides with host plant blooming in early June in western Oklahoma and mid to late June on the plains of eastern Colorado. Records from south­central New Mexico show flight in early July. Specimens from western and central Texas and southeastern Colorado show flights from August to September, suggesting a partial second brood or a late corresponding bloom. Females oviposit on pre­bloom buds of Heterotheca villosa (Pursh) Shinners var. nana (Gray) Semple (Asteraceae) ( Figs. 1–2 ). Heterotheca villosa var. nana , or hairy false goldenaster, is a weedy perennial forb that can be plentiful on cobbly soils of the plains from western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming to the central plains of Texas, west to New Mexico and northeastern Arizona. Soils are usually mixed with sandy loams of gypsum and bentonite origins.

Adult female chryselloides lay their eggs on buds and open flowers at dusk and can be seen flying among the low plants in open areas through the evening hours until dark. The larval biology is unknown.

Schinia chryselloides flies with the first brood of Schinia meadi (Grote) in areas adjacent to sandy washes, but generally flies earlier than other species in the chrysellus group. Specimens collected in August fly with S. ciliata , S. tertia (Grote) , S. grandimedia Hardwick , S. citrinella (Grote & Robinson) , S. mortua Grote , S. cumatilis (Grote) , S. reniformis Smith , second brood S. meadi , S. jaguarina (Guenée) , S. errans Smith , S. siren (Strecker) , S. lynx (Guenée) , S. coercita (Grote) , and S. unimacula Smith (southeastern Colorado).

The host plant distribution ( Fig. 47 ) is a relatively good fit except for adult records from southern Arizona and southern Texas.

Distribution ( Fig. 47 ). In Colorado from the base of the foothills in Jefferson Co. east to Lincoln Co., in extreme southeastern Colorado, south to southeastern Socorro Co., New Mexico, and east to the southeastern panhandle of Texas and extreme southern Texas.

Material Examined. All specimens are from the National Museum of Natural History collection except as noted. PARATYPES: U.S.A.: COLORADO: [No specific locality], (1Ψ), genitalia slide USNM 46940, Barnes Collection, (1ɗ, 1Ψ) Oslar. ARAPAHOE CO. Byers, 16 Jul. 1996 (2Ψ) R.S. Peigler ( DMNS); Cherry Creek State Park, 17 Jun. 1997, A.D. Warren (ADW). BACA CO. Picture Canyon, Comanche National Grasslands, sw Campo, 25 Aug. 2002 (7ɗ, 1Ψ), ɗ genitalia USNM slide 47104, Ψ genitalia slide USNM 47110, Ψ genitalia slide USNM 47105, M.G. Pogue & C.E. Harp; Picture Canyon, N of Picnic Area, sw Campo, 4282 ft., 25 Aug. 2002 (1ɗ, 1Ψ), M.G. Pogue & C.E. Harp. DEN­ VER CO. Denver, (1ɗ, 1Ψ), W. Schaus Coll. DOUGLAS CO. Sedalia, 5850 ft., July 1962 (1Ψ) ( CSU); Franktown, Hwy. #86 at Hwy. #83, 30 Jun. 2002 at lights (1Ψ), C. Harp (CEH). ELBERT CO. Elizabeth, lights of new grocery mall, 6341 ft., 24 June 2000 (11ɗ, 5Ψ), ɗ genitalia slides MGP 1147­8, C. & M. J. Harp, 24 June 2002 (2ɗ, 11Ψ), C. Harp (CEH); Elizabeth, Hwy. #86, lights of Safeway grocery store, 6341 ft., 30 June 2002 (3ɗ, 2Ψ), Ψ genitalia slide MGP 1149, C. Harp (CEH). JEFFERSON CO. Golden, Chimney Gulch, 28 Aug. 1908 (1Ψ), Oslar; Littleton, Stony Creek Addition open park, 6230 ft., 12 Aug. 1999 (1ɗ), C. Harp (CEH). LINCOLN CO. Limon, s of Hwy. I­70 at exit #361 at gas station lights, 5356 ft. elev., 11 Jul. 2002 (1Ψ), C. Harp (CEH). NEW MEXICO: VALENCIA CO. sw of Becker, roadside along Hwy. #47 at 5219 ft.elev., 8 Aug. 2002 on Heterotheca villosa (1Ψ), C. Harp (CEH). OKLAHOMA: BEAVER CO. Beaver River WMA at blacklight, 6 June 1993 (1Ψ), J.M. Nelson (ORU). CIMARRON CO. Black Mesa State Park at mercury vapor light, 24 Aug. 2004 (1Ψ), M.G. Pogue & C.E. Harp (CEH). JACKSON CO. Rt. #6 at the Red River at blacklight, 30 August 2002 (1Ψ), J.M. Nelson (ORU). JEFFERSON CO. 4 mi n of Waurika, along Hwy. 6 at Beaver Crk., 882 ft. elev., 18 Aug. 2004 (1Ψ), M. Garhart & C. Harp (CEH). TILLMAN CO. Lake Frederick at blacklight, 9 June 2003 (1Ψ), J.M. Nelson (ORU). TEXAS: CAMERON CO. Laguna Atascosa, 25 Sep. 1973 (1ɗ), A. & M.E. Blanchard. COTTLE CO. Paducah, 19 Aug. 1971 (3ɗ), A. & M.E. Blanchard. HEMPHILL CO. Gene Howe Wildlife Management Area, 18 May 1985 (1ɗ), E.C. Knudson (ECK). JEFF DAVIS CO. Davis Mtns. State Park, 14–17 Aug. 1982 (1ɗ), T.P. Friedlander ( TAMU); W. of Ft. Davis on SR 118, Limpia Canyon, 17 Aug. 1974 (1Ψ), H. Greenbaum ( TAMU). Paratypes deposited in CNC and BMNH.

Etymology: The suffix – oides, meaning likeness, was added to the root of chrysellus to show its close relationship with that species.

Discussion. We selected a female as the holotype, because the genitalia are easily differentiated between chryselloides and chrysellus .

There is some variation in the color of the forewing maculation. Some specimens have more rufous in the median band and less black scaling in the terminal area.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Adult. 1 – 2, Schinia chryselloides, female ovipositing on Heterotheca villosa var. nana, Colorado, Elbert Co. Elizabeth, open eroded shoulders s. of Hwy. # 86 just s of the high school at 6341 ft. elev., 29 June 2002; 3, Host plant, Amphiachyris dracunculoides, for Schinia chrysellus in typical habitat, eroded red­clay prairies and savannahs, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Co., 3 mi sw of Luther, along Hwy. I­ 44 nr. Peebly Rd., 22 August 1992.

FIGURES 4 – 11. Adults. 4, Schinia chrysellus, male, Texas, Val Verde Co. Lake Walk, USNMENT 00220471; 5, S. chrysellus, male, Texas, Val Verde Co. Lake Walk, USNMENT 00220471; 6, S. chrysellus, male (lanul phenotype), Texas, USNMENT 00220456; 7, S. chryselloides, male, Texas, Cottle Co., Paducah, USNMENT 00220482; 8, S. chryselloides, female, Holotype, Colorado, Elbert Co., Elizabeth, lights for new grocery mall, USNMENT 00220214; 9, S. chryselloides, male, Colorado, Elbert Co., Elizabeth, lights for new grocery mall, USNMENT 00220211; 10, S. alencis, female, Texas, Brewster Co., Alpine, USNMENT 00220501; 11, S. alencis, female, Texas, Cottle Co., Paducah, USNMENT 0 0 220513.

FIGURES 16 – 20. Heads. 16, Schinia chrysellus; 17, S. chryselloides; 18, S. alencis; 19, S. ciliata; 20, S. rufocostulata.

FIGURES 21 – 25. Foretibia showing form and arrangement of claws. 21, Schinia chrysellus; 22, S. chryselloides; 23, S. alencis; 24, S. ciliata; 25, S. rufocostulata.

FIGURES 26 – 31. Male genitalia and aedoeagus. 26, Schinia chrysellus; 27, S. chrysellus, aedoeagus; 28, S. chryselloides; 29, S. chryselloides, aedoeagus; 30, S. alencis; 9, 31, S. alencis, aedoeagus.

FIGURES 36 – 41. Female genitalia and papillae analis. 36, Schinia chrysellus; 37, S. chryselloides; 38, S. alencis; 39, S. chrysellus, papillae analis; 40, S. chryselloides, papillae analis; 41, S. alencis, papillae analis.

FIGURES 46 – 47. 46, Collecting localities for Schinia chrysellus, shaded area is distribution of host plant, Amphiachyris dracunculoides (Asteraceae); 47, Collecting localities for Schinia chryselloides, shaded area is distribution of host plant, Heterotheca villosa var. nana (Asteraceae).